Exterior Paint Tips – How To Guide

There are many benefits to a good exterior painting job, including maintaining your render or plaster and increasing your home’s value. We must admit, a DIY exterior painting project is a huge job!

Completing a top-quality exterior paint job requires patience & dedication, attention to detail, the strength to move & set up tall ladders (depending on the height of your house) & the confidence that you can work safely from heights.

Here’s Why It’s Worth It

The rewards of undertaking this project are substantial!

Many benefits come with a good exterior painting job, among these rewards are maintaining your exterior render/plaster and increasing the value of your house. One of the best things about this project is that your home will look new again.

If you start painting it yourself, you will save a lot of money with a minimum investment in tools and materials. A professional painter could easily cost twice the amount!

Our exterior paint tips and how-to guide will ensure you are confident and can take on the job.

Guide To Starting Your Exterior Paint Job

To ensure your new paint adheres perfectly, start by thoroughly cleaning your home’s exterior.

For any of you beginners, it is essential to know that for the new paint to be applied perfectly to the surface, you must clean down the house’s exterior of all grime, mildew & chalky residue. This can be done by hand scrubbing with a stiff-bristle brush, which is just as effective as using a power sprayer.

You can either hand-scrub with a stiff-bristle brush or use a power sprayer for ease. However, a power sprayer would be the easier option.

Recommended Product:

We recommend using Sandtex Fungicidal Wash to effectively remove grime, mildew, and chalky residue.

 


How Much Does It Cost To Paint A House?

Firstly, we recommend buying quality painting tools.

  • It is extremely important to purchase paint brushes and rollers designed for use on exterior surfaces.
  • For the first few applications of paint to large areas of different types, we recommend you buy a high-quality roller set consisting of a sturdy roller cage (handle part of the roller).
  • However, applying your topcoats (final paint coats) will not require as much high-quality equipment. The tools you have invested in for scraping & priming should be fine.

#PaintingTip

– You do not want to run out of paint halfway through the job, so we recommend checking out Dulux’s handy paint calculation tips to see how much paint is required for your house – Dulux Calculation Tips. Crown and other paint brands also have these tools.

 

Roller Technique & Prep – 3 Step Rule

Fill In Those Cracks 

Remember, small holes, hairline cracks, and minor damages should be filled in using a filler with a knife or scraper before starting your exterior paint job. Sand down these areas after the filling is complete & apply the fresh paint.

Recommended Product:

FIX ALL (High Tack White / Invisible) provides reliable filling and sealing for minor damages.


Load The Roller

Pour 4 litres of paint into a large bucket, and hang a roller screen within the bucket. Soak the roller nap in the bucket & squeeze off the excess paint on the screen.

Recommended Product:

Paint Rolling

When applying the paint with the roller, use mild pressure & reload the roller when the paint is no longer rolling easily

#PaintingTip

– Remember, thorough preparation significantly impacts your paint job’s quality. Small holes, hairline cracks and minor damages should be filled in using a filler with a knife or scraper before starting your exterior paint job. Sand down these areas after the filling is complete & apply the fresh paint.

 


Applying Your Exterior Paint Guide: Take It From The Top

Always start painting near the top of your house and work your way down to avoid any paint drips falling onto freshly painted areas.

Here’s a quick guide

  1. Apply paint to all edges first.
  2. Then address the broad surfaces.
  3. Applying the paint from one wet surface to another as soon as possible will avoid lap marks.
  4. However, this may not always be possible, and you sometimes must apply the paint to a dry surface. When doing this, be sure to overlap onto the dried paint surface by several inches.

Recommended Product:

  • Extension ladders (available at Homevalue) ensure safe and efficient access to high areas.



#PaintingTip

 – Remember basic ladder safety. When using a ladder, maintain your balance and keep your hips within the ladder’s horizontal rails to prevent accidents. Avoid overreaching too far to the side, or you might fall over.

 

Choose The Right Paint!

Above all else, choose the right exterior paint for your home. Choosing the right paint colour enhances your home’s architectural style and boosts curb appeal. The exterior paint scheme should feel appropriate to the style of the house.

It is essential to consider your home’s architectural style to get the most out of your paint job. For example, a very large house in a very dark colour may look too imposing.

As a final touch, to prevent the front door from getting lost, consider painting it in a warm, rich colour. 

More #PaintingTips

Explore the Sandtex Masonry Colour Guide for inspiration: Sandtex Masonry colour guide.

Here are 5 Easy Tips For Choosing Your Exterior Paint

Recommended Products

  • DULUX Weathershield Masonry White (10L + 1L Free) for superior protection and durability. The range boasts improved mould & algae protection, fast shower resistance and superior colour & weather protection.


  • FLEETWOOD Weatherclad Masonry Colours (10L) offering excellent UV, algae, and mould resistance. This range gives you UV protection. It also prevents algae, mould & dirt build-up and lasts for up to 18 years



    Your Shopping List For The Job

    • Paint (– Refer to Dulux Calculation Tips to estimate accurately.
    • Filler
    • Extension ladder
    • Paint roller (4″ or 9″ from Homevalue)
    • Paint tray
    • Paintbrush
    • Dust sheets
    • Roller sleeve
    • Bucket
    • Paint Protective clothes
    • Pressure washer (for efficient exterior cleaning)
    • Sandtex Fungicidal wash (recommended)
    • Paint scraper
    • Filler – FIX ALL

     

    By following these guidelines and using quality products from Homevalue, you’ll complete a professional-standard exterior painting project safely and effectively!

     

    A DIY Tip from Martin Glynn at the DIY Academy!

     Try this time-saving tip if you are working on a painting project that will not be completed in a single day.

    Instead of washing your brushes, rollers and trays, place them in an airtight bin liner or black bag and seal it with masking tape. This will keep your tools fresh and ready to use the next day, reducing cleanup time & effort!

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